In recent years I’ve fallen in love with creating flower arrangements. Whether it’s to add an extra layer of love for house guests, or simply because I spy the most beautiful peonies at Trader Joes, I find it so relaxing to try my hand at making an artful arrangement.
I’ve learned a few things over the years, but I know I’m no expert! So when I need the help of professionals, my go-to local source is the University Flower Shop. Their team of talented women craft unique and truly inspired arrangements!
I recently worked with them on the florals for my One Room Challenge. My plans, coupled with their creativity and thoughtful insights, resulted in arrangements I would have never dreamed up! They were the perfect finishing touches for my dining room.
I learned so much in collaborating with them, and I’m excited to share my tips on how to work with your local florist to ensure you get the right look while staying on budget and on time for your event.
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First, reach out to your florist a few weeks in advance to ensure they can accommodate your timing, especially in light of COVID. Giving extra time is also important during the busy holiday and event seasons.
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Email photos of the space along with dimensions of the vessel(s) you’re planning on using, and dimensions of the furniture your arrangement(s) will be placed on.
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Send any additional information or inspirational imagery you may have. The more specific you are, the more they can understand your vision. For me, this also included a description of the feel I wanted to achieve in my dining room. My descriptors were romantic, ethereal, and with a nod to nature.
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Send a budget (or range) if you have one.
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If you able to, give your vessel(s) to your florist as soon as you can. After I provided my floral shop with the above details, I dropped off my gorgeous new vert vases so they could work with them as needed.
This little bit of prep work led to the best floral experience I’ve ever had!
Here is what I sent them (what a sensational dining room by Suzanne Kasler, right?):
Dani, the owner, and Clare, another expert floral designer, pulled inspiration that was so much more exciting than what I had sourced.
Here’s what they dreamed up:
Their options were exactly in-tune with the aesthetic I was hoping to achieve. After consulting with Clare, it was like a light bulb went off. My initial ideas for the peonies could read as heavy and would take away from the ease of the space, whereas their arrangements had had an effortless lightness that was beautifully airy and romantic. After we settled on the cost, they were off a-running.
Their service blew me away. I was set to pick up the flowers the day before our shoot, and Clare texted me photos of the first arrangement that morning for my feedback. We then had a quick face-time and I suggested some tweaks, we finalized the budget, and they wrapped up the arrangements. Even better, the exchanges actually resulted in me paying a third less than the initial budget I gave them!
The first photo that Clare messaged me was stunning, but we realized (given the face-time check-in), that pared-down arrangements would be a better fit in size, so these were what we moved forward with:
And here is the end result from the shoot, I could not have been happier!
The process may sound tedious, but the extra effort is so worth it! A little planning will help you maximize your budget, get the exact right look for the occasion, and in my experience, it turned what could have been a stressful last detail, into incredible fun!
I hope you find these tips helpful, and stay tuned as we are going to craft a follow-up this post on how to best source flowers from your local grocer, and how to make them last!
Located in Ann Arbor?
If you’re located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I highly recommend checking out University Flower Shop. Their florists create truly one-of-a-kind arrangements that are tailored to your vision and event.